Tuft-yarn spring-clip



A. T. THOMPSON.

v TUFT YARN SPRING CLIP.

APPLICATION FILED .IUNE IOI I920.

1,394,050. Patented Oct. 18,1921. M" 15 I ATTORNEYS PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR TOPPIN' THOMPSON OF HIGHTSTOWN, NEW JERSEY.

TUFT-YARN SPRING-CLIP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

' Patented Oct. 18, 1921.

Application filed June 10, 1920. Serial No. 387,912.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR TorriN THOMPSON, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Hightstown, in the county of Mercer and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tuft-Yarn Spring-Clips, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the class of weaving, and more particularly to looms for weaving tufted fabrics such as tapestries, lace, Turkish crash, velvets, axminsters, etc., and particularly Axminster rugs, in which the tuft yarns are wound side by side'upon beams or spools carried by the tuft yarn frames carried by an endless chain from which said beams or spools are automatically picked up and operated during the operation of the loom, to insert the quills or yarn carriers, through which the free ends of the yarn pass, into the shed between the parallel warp threads, the beams or spools being taken up for the purpose of removing the same from and placing the same upon the endless chain by means of clamps, as particularly shown and described in prior Patent Nos. 490,287 and 878,119, and the invention has more particular reference to im proved means for permanently securing the springs in position adapted to be used in conjunction with the end members of the tuft yarn frame bar and prevent them from working loose during the operation, and an improved spring constituting in conjunction with said end members, means for effecting the connection with said chains or pick-up devices whereby interference with the operation of the loom is prevented.

The invention further comprehends an improved spring or spring clip attachment for tuft yarn frames for looms which obviates the necessity of frequently tightening the small screw used to fasten the spring clips which are now universally used, especially in the weaving of Axminster rugs and gen erally, for overcoming the defects and objections to devices heretofore employed owing to the screws working loose by the constant oscillation ofthe frame which is carried on a chain conveyer, thus permitting the tension of the spring tobe lessened and ultimately resulting in the dropping of the frame from the conveyer chain, causing damage anddelay and consequently loss of productiomiwhile the present device also ob-' viates the necessity of entirely extracting the fastening screws in the event of the spring breaking, as is the case with the present devices, while also providing a spring which is equally adaptable for either end of the frame instead of necessitating that the same be constructed or made as right and left hand for use in connection with existing attachments, with the result of causing much confusion in applying the same.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved spring which-requires no extra attaching parts, guards, or reinforcing springs or attachments of any kind, being a complete spring in itself and being a thoroughly practical and reliable contrivance answering fully the requirements for which it is devised.

Other and further objects of my invention will be come readily apparent to persons skilled in the art, from a consideration of the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure l is a fragmentary sectional elevation of a loom for weaving tufted fabrics and provided with tuft yarn frames equipped with the improved spring or gripping means whereby the beams or spools are taken from and placed upon the endless chains,

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view thereof partly in side elevation,

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view showing one end of a tuft yarn frame with a beam or spool held therein and showing the improvement applied thereto,

Fig. 4 is a perspective View of the spring attachment, and

Fig. 5 isa face view of the device shown in Fig. 4, the intermediate portion being broken away.

The fundamental principle of weaving is embodied in all looms. By this, I mean that the function of a loom proper is to weave plain unadorned cloth, such as cotton, wool or silk. In the production of tapestries, lace, Turkish crash, velvets, axminsters, etc., auxiliary actions are requisitioned and used in conjunction with the loom. The present device is in the form of an attachment or spring adapted to be employed with looms for weaving tufted fabrics as shown and described in the prior patents above re ferred to and particularly in conjunction with a type of loom known as the Crompton and. Knowles Axminster loom, though not forming an integral part of it. Thus, 1n

the weaving of Axminster rugs, a large number of frames are carried on a chain belt conveyer, which pass directly above the loom. hen the loom is in action, the chain receives an impulse which brings a frame directly above the weaving point of the loom. Two steel arms or pick-up devices then operate or are raised up and press against the mechanical action of the loom proper causes a portion of the colored wool formed by the top yarns or threads carried by the frame, to be enmeshed by the weave, and after being severed by the knives, the frame is replaced in the chain conveyer or pick-up de-- vice by the reverse action of the mechanical arms constituting the holding and releasing means for the tuft yarn beams or spools, and springs in which they are mounted. The springs at the end of the frame then lock in a link of the chain and when this chain again receives an impulse, the frame which has just been returned to the chain is carried a short distance and permits the arms to engage another frame, and thus by a series of repeated actions, all of the frames carried on the chains are thus engaged and a portion of the wool carried by them woven into the rug.

However, should the end springs or spring clips as at present employed, by the relaxation of tension, due to the loosening of the small holding screws for securing the same to the tuft frame bar, fail to grip the chain as intended, then the result would be the falling of the frame into the mechanism of the loom, invariably causing breakage and delay, and consequently greatly increasing the expense of upkeep and the lowering of production. It is common in factories to employ repair men who do nothing but'attend to the fastening of the springs at a considerable expense, and in addition, the twisting of the parts results in the fastening screws or other parts including the springs projecting from the end frames and interfering with the actionof the pick-up mechanism and chains, as well as interfering with the operation of the loom and the weaving of the fabric, in addition to resulting in .a much inferior grade of product. By the use of the improved attachment or spring constituting the subject-matter of the present invention, these difliculties are overcome and the danger reduced to a minimum.

In illustrating the construction, use and application of the invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, and referring to the same in detail in which l ke reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the numeral 10 designates the loom generally, provided with the usual loom sides or end frames 11 provided with spaced shafts 12 carrying sprocket wheels 13 on which the endless chain conveyers 1 f constituting parts of the pick-up mechanism, operate. These chains between the sprockets 13 have a portion of each lap extended downwardly and trained around sprocket wheels 15 which are fixed to a common shaft 16 running ac-ross the machine between the loom sides or end frames 11. These chains are adapted to support the tuft yarn frames of theloom as especially used in weaving tufted fabrics and are provided with means whereby the frames including the bars and beams or spools thereof, are taken from and placed upon the chains by means of clamps, and operating devices for holding and releasing the tuft yarn beams at the desired time, as particularly set forth in the patents hereinbefore referred to.

As illustrated in the drawings, the frames are generally designated at 17 and the holding and releasing means are illustrated in the form of mechanical arms to which a rocking motion is imparted from the shaft 19, the free ends of the arms being adapted to engage and support the frames therein as to release the springs and to lower the frames to the weaving point of the loom as above referred to. Each tuft yarn frame embodies an elongated bar 20, preferably of wood and substantially of rectangular cross section arranged at the bottom with a series ofcarriers or quills 21 arranged side by side and in the form of relatively flat metallic tubes through which the free ends of the yarn pass, into the shed between the parallel warp threads, as is common in the art. These carriers are secured to the front and bottom edges of the bar and terminate at spaced points from the ends ofthe bar, as particularly indicated in Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawings. The beams or spoolsiare designated at 22 and are provided with flanged ends or rims23, mounted to turn in bearings 24 having apertured ears 25.receiving the spindles or pivots 26- of the. spools, said ears being preferably stamped out from the bear: ings as more particularly depicted in Fig. 3 of the drawings] These bearings or end members 24 are of right angularformation, the lower ends 27 thereof being extended beneath the ends of the bar 20 and securely fastened vertically as through the medium of wood screws 28, thus securely and perma- Each of the bearings or end members 24 is provided with a laterally projecting and upwardly bent finger 29 forming a guard and means cooperative with the usual spring clip and spring gripping device constituting the attachment for the tuft yarn loom frame forming the particular subject matter of the present invention. One of these spring attachments is arranged at each end of the bar and in the drawings is designated at 30, each attachment consisting of a spring metal strip which is relatively narrow and is provided with a reversely bent free end portion 31 disposed to overlie a finger 29 and cooperating therewith to form a releasable gripping means for engagement with the links of a chain. The spring 30 is formed with a base portion 32 arranged at an obtuse angle with respect to the strip proper, and substantially at right angles with relation thereto, so as to extend beneath the base portion 27 of the end member or bearing 24. The base portion is enlarged relative to the strip, being extended laterally at either side and provided with a screw-receiving aperture 33 to one side of the longitudinal cen ter thereof or offset from one edge of the strip proper, and formed with a restricted slot or throat portion 34 communicating with and extending through to the edge of the main portion adjacent thereto so as to receive one of the wood screws 28 and rendering it unnecessary to fully extract the screw in the event of the spring breaking, as is ordinarily required, owing to the fact that the spring can be extracted after the screw has been slightly loosened, thus facilitating the renewal of the springs and reducing the cost of upkeep. At the shank portion of each spring, the sides are strengthened or reinforced by web portions 35 extending at right angles to the plane of the strip adjacent to the base portion 32, adding rigidity and strength to the shank portion and resiliency to the strip proper forming the spring, which exerts a normal outward tension against the finger 29 and is freely movable through the slot produced by the stamped out ear 25. The ears of the end members or bearings serve for supporting and journaling the tuft yarn spool in op erative relation to the carriers and as particularly shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, spring tension arms 36 are arranged on the bar 20 to frictionally engage the ends of the spool to regulate the action the weaving operation. In this way, the colored wool carried by the frame is properly enmeshed by the weave as the threads of the yarn are guided through the carriers from the spool, by reason of the tubular formation of the carriers or quills and the arrangement thereof side by side as described.

I am aware of the old device in which the thereof during" spring is attached at the end of the bar by the screw running longitudinally thereof through the vertical portion of the end memher, and also of the spring clip for use in conjunction therewith patented July 16, 1918, and the device shown in Patent 1,272,656, issued to Victor Gero under the date mentioned, but said devices are objectionable for the reasons stated, owing to the necessity of frequently tightening the fastening screws thereof or because of the extra parts required in the construction of the spring clip or holder, whereas in the present invention, the spring is made with an attaching part integral therewith, the whole being stamped from proper spring sheet metal and bent or formed into shape as required. The device will not work loose by the constant oscillation of the frame when carried on the chain con veyer, thereby preventing the tension of the spring being lessened and ultimately resulting in the dropping of the frame from the conveyer chain and causing damage and delay and consequently loss of production, as heretoforeexperienced. The improved spring eliminates all troubles and objections heretofore experienced and by fastening with one large wood screw on the bottom of the frame bar which receives only a very slight side pressure when the spring is in use, the spring will be kept in correct position at all times. Furthermore, it is unnecessary to fully extract the screw in the event of the spring breaking, as the screw hole of the improved spring is slotted, which permits the spring to be extracted after the screw has been slightly loosened, whereas on all existing spring attachments now in use in connection with the springs or spring clips as now employed, two screws are necessary and must be fully extracted before the attachment can be removed. By discarding one of the screws and avoiding the additional labor involved, considerable time and labor are saved and the cost of upkee and maintenance considerably reduced. l urthermore, the improved spring is equally adaptable to either end of the frame, no existing spring attachment having this advantage and thus, the

construction of the fittings in right and left 7 hand types, is unnecessary as with existing attachments, thereby eliminating confusion and requiring no spring attachments of any kind, but on the other hand, a single device complete in itself and which is thoroughly practical and reliable in use, and economical to produce.

In View of the foregoing, it is thought that the operation of the device will be readily understood and in view of the simplicity and practical value, that it will commend itself to those skilled in the art.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. A tuft yarn spring clip comprising a Cir resilient strip having a laterally enlarged base portion provided with a screw opening and having a slot extending through one edge from said opening, said base portion extending at obtuse angles from the spring strip proper and said strip having a reinforcing portion adjacent the base portion and means for cooperating with the usual end member of the yarn frame.

2. A clip for use in connection with tuft yarn frames for looms comprising a spring metal strip of bowed formation having a laterally enlarged base portion adapted to be secured against the bottom of the yarn frame through the medium of a single securing screw thereof and bearing against the base portion of an end member of the frame, said strip having reinforcing portions at the shank thereof adjacent to said base portion and formed at its free end to cooperate with the usual end member for engaging the conveyer chain of the pick-up mechanism of the loom.

3. A releasable spring attachment for use with tuft yarn frames for looms of the class described, in which the frame is provided with a bar, and end members on the bar adapted to support a spool with the yarn threads thereon; comprising a resilient strip having a base portion extended at an obtuse angle with respect, thereto and having a screw opening provided with a slot for engagement with one of the attaching screws of the end members at its base portion, the strip adjacent to said base portion being provided with webs extended at right angles to the edges of the strip and means at the free end thereof for cooperation in engaging the conveyor chain of the pick-up mechanism of the loom.

4. A spring of the class described comprising a resilient member stamped from sheet metal and having a reversely bent and enlarged free end, the opposite end being bent at obtuse angles and projected laterally at either side, said enlarged portion having an opening formed with an entrance slot extending through one edge, and the edges of the strip being formed withintegral angularly bent portions adding rigidity thereto. 5. The combination with a tuft yarn frame including an end member of angular formation having an integral base portion secured to the bar of the frame and provided with a bearing portion and a slotted finger portion; of a spring cooperating with said finger portion and comprising a spring'strip extended through said slot and reversely bent to cooperate with the finger, the opposite end of the strip being extended laterally at either side and provided with a screw receiving aperture for attachment against the base portion of the end member through the medium of a single fastening thereof nearest the end of the bar adjacent the for- Ward edge thereof, the enlarged end of the strip forming a base portion terminating midway of the length of the base portion of the end member and the portion of the strip conforming to the angular portion of the end member being bent around the latter and reinforced to add strength and resiliency to the strip, said strip being normally tensioned outwardly.

ARTHUR ToPPiN THOMPSON. 

